Patents by Inventor Robert D. Straub

Robert D. Straub has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8402948
    Abstract: A fuel line may include a hollow elongate body having a first end and a second end. A first sealing member located on the first end of the hollow elongate body may have a monolithic construction and include a base region and a sealing region. The base region may have a first material hardness and the sealing region may have a second material hardness, the second material hardness being less than the first material hardness. A first connector may be coupled with the elongate body and the first connector and the first sealing member may be configured to sealingly connect to a fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventor: Robert D. Straub
  • Patent number: 8402940
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine structure, a piston, and a direct injection fuel system. The engine structure may define a cylinder bore and the piston may be disposed within the cylinder bore for reciprocal displacement between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position. The direct injection fuel system may include a fuel injector that provides a fuel spray to a combustion chamber defined by the piston and the cylinder bore. The fuel flow may extend generally tangential to a circumference of the combustion chamber and may define a centerline extending in a direction radially across the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Inventor: Robert D. Straub
  • Patent number: 8297050
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed towards an apparatus and method for control of fluid flow through a conduit of an exhaust system for an engine, particularly prior to an exhaust treatment device. In one embodiment, a fluid flow control device for receiving and guiding exhaust gas from an engine towards an exhaust gas treatment device is provided. The fluid flow control device includes a nozzle disposed within an exhaust conduit of the engine. The nozzle includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening for forming a first flow path through the nozzle. The nozzle is spaced from the exhaust conduit for forming a second flow path between the nozzle and the exhaust conduit. The fluid flow control device also includes an injector disposed adjacent the nozzle. The injector may be oriented to direct a pressurized fluid to the first or second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Raj P. Ranganathan, Sherif H. El Tahry, Robert D. Straub
  • Publication number: 20110315122
    Abstract: A fuel line may include a hollow elongate body having a first end and a second end. A first sealing member located on the first end of the hollow elongate body may have a monolithic construction and include a base region and a sealing region. The base region may have a first material hardness and the sealing region may have a second material hardness, the second material hardness being less than the first material hardness. A first connector may be coupled with the elongate body and the first connector and the first sealing member may be configured to sealingly connect to a fuel injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: ROBERT D. STRAUB
  • Publication number: 20110239991
    Abstract: A fuel injector may include a housing, a poppet valve assembly, and an actuation assembly. The housing may define a longitudinal bore, a high pressure fuel duct in communication with the longitudinal bore and a valve seat including a valve seat surface and an aperture. The poppet valve assembly may include a stem and a valve head, be disposed within the longitudinal bore and be variably displaceable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the valve head may abut the valve seat to seal the aperture. In the second position, the valve head may be displaced from the valve seat to open the aperture. The actuation assembly may operate to move the poppet valve assembly between the first position and the second position. The high pressure fuel duct may carry pressurized fuel that biases the poppet valve assembly to be in the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: ROBERT D. STRAUB
  • Publication number: 20110239982
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine structure, a piston, and a direct injection fuel system. The engine structure may define a cylinder bore and the piston may be disposed within the cylinder bore for reciprocal displacement between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position. The direct injection fuel system may include a fuel injector that provides a fuel spray to a combustion chamber defined by the piston and the cylinder bore. The fuel flow may extend generally tangential to a circumference of the combustion chamber and may define a centerline extending in a direction radially across the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Robert D. Straub
  • Publication number: 20110240770
    Abstract: A fuel injector may include a housing, a pintle nozzle assembly and an actuation assembly. The housing may define a longitudinal bore, a high pressure fuel duct in communication with the longitudinal bore and a valve seat including a valve seat surface and an aperture. The pintle nozzle assembly may include a stem and a pintle and may be at least partially disposed within the longitudinal bore and be variably displaceable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the pintle nozzle assembly may abut the valve seat to seal the aperture. In the second position, the pintle nozzle assembly may be displaced from the valve seat to open the aperture. The actuation assembly may be coupled with the pintle nozzle assembly and operate to move the pintle nozzle assembly to a plurality of positions between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: ROBERT D. STRAUB
  • Publication number: 20110239983
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine structure, a piston, and a direct injection fuel system. The engine structure may define a cylinder bore and an intake port in communication with the cylinder bore and adapted to mitigate intake air swirl within the cylinder bore. The piston may be disposed within the cylinder bore for a reciprocal stroke between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position. The piston may define an annular recess portion in an axial end surface thereof. The direct injection fuel system may include a fuel injector that provides a fuel spray to a combustion chamber defined by the piston and the cylinder bore. The fuel spray may define an annular plume intersecting the annular recess portion in the piston when the piston is in an injection position within twenty percent of the reciprocal stroke from the top dead center position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: ROBERT D. STRAUB
  • Publication number: 20110107743
    Abstract: A diffuser for aiding in the vaporization and mixing of an injected reactant with the exhaust gas feed stream of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system is disclosed. The diffuser is disposed within an exhaust gas conduit of the exhaust gas aftertreatment system and has an impingement surface and a baffle plate disposed downstream of and adjacent thereto. The baffle plate extends outwardly from the diffuser, to terminate at a baffle plate tip that is located intermediate of the diffuser and an inner wall of the exhaust gas conduit. The baffle plate is operable to trap a portion of an exhaust gas feed stream, and a reactant resident therein, to increase the vaporization and residence time of the reactant in the exhaust gas feed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Raj P. Ranganathan, Sandro Balestrino, Robert D. Straub, Xiaobin (Sharon) Li
  • Patent number: 7866575
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include a fuel injector having a housing, an actuation mechanism, and a valve member. The housing may define a high pressure region, a low pressure region, a longitudinal bore, and a valve seat having an aperture extending therethrough. The actuation member may be disposed within the longitudinal bore and may include a first axial end surface. The valve mechanism may include a second axial end surface abutting the first axial end surface. The first and second axial end surfaces define an outer contact perimeter and a chamber within the outer contact perimeter. A radial surface area defined by the chamber formed by the first and second axial end surfaces may be at least 25 percent of a radial surface area defined within the outer contact perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Robert D. Straub
  • Patent number: 7827971
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine defining a cylinder bore, a fuel tank, a fuel supply assembly in fluid communication with the fuel tank and the cylinder bore, a fuel return assembly in fluid communication with the fuel supply assembly and the fuel tank, and a fuel filter assembly. The fuel filter assembly may include a filter casing having an inlet, an outlet and a bypass opening, and a filter media located within the filter casing. The filter media may be located between the inlet and the outlet, defining a dirty fuel region of the filter assembly between the inlet and the filter media and a clean fuel region between the filter media and the filter outlet. The bypass opening may be in fluid communication with the dirty fuel region and the fuel return assembly to draw gases out of the dirty fuel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Raj P. Ranganathan, Henry W Harper, Robert D. Straub
  • Publication number: 20100186724
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include an engine defining a cylinder bore, a fuel tank, a fuel supply assembly in fluid communication with the fuel tank and the cylinder bore, a fuel return assembly in fluid communication with the fuel supply assembly and the fuel tank, and a fuel filter assembly. The fuel filter assembly may include a filter casing having an inlet, an outlet and a bypass opening, and a filter media located within the filter casing. The filter media may be located between the inlet and the outlet, defining a dirty fuel region of the filter assembly between the inlet and the filter media and a clean fuel region between the filter media and the filter outlet. The bypass opening may be in fluid communication with the dirty fuel region and the fuel return assembly to draw gases out of the dirty fuel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Raj P. Ranganathan, Henry W. Harper, Robert D. Straub
  • Publication number: 20100176222
    Abstract: An engine assembly may include a fuel injector having a housing, an actuation mechanism, and a valve member. The housing may define a high pressure region, a low pressure region, a longitudinal bore, and a valve seat having an aperture extending therethrough. The actuation member may be disposed within the longitudinal bore and may include a first axial end surface. The valve mechanism may include a second axial end surface abutting the first axial end surface. The first and second axial end surfaces define an outer contact perimeter and a chamber within the outer contact perimeter. A radial surface area defined by the chamber formed by the first and second axial end surfaces may be at least 25 percent of a radial surface area defined within the outer contact perimeter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Robert D. Straub
  • Publication number: 20100005791
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed towards an apparatus and method for control of fluid flow through a conduit of an exhaust system for an engine, particularly prior to an exhaust treatment device. In one embodiment, a fluid flow control device for receiving and guiding exhaust gas from an engine towards an exhaust gas treatment device is provided. The fluid flow control device includes a nozzle disposed within an exhaust conduit of the engine. The nozzle includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening for forming a first flow path through the nozzle. The nozzle is spaced from the exhaust conduit for forming a second flow path between the nozzle and the exhaust conduit. The fluid flow control device also includes an injector disposed adjacent the nozzle. The injector may be oriented to direct a pressurized fluid to the first or second flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Raj P. Ranganathan, Sherif H. El Tahry, Robert D. Straub
  • Patent number: 7568461
    Abstract: Improved end shapes are provided for laterally confined tappet rollers in high pressure fuel pumps and similar applications for improving lubrication and wear performance when rotating against a cylindrical surface. The roller ends are provided with annular end faces having diameters smaller than the roller diameter but spaced around the roller axis. Rotation of a roller end against a cylindrical surface provides two contact areas on opposite sides of a central plane through the axes of the roller and the cylindrical surface. The arrangements separate the surfaces between engagements with the contact areas and permit lubricant to reach the end face surfaces between contacts with the two areas. The improved tappet roller should improve service life for the fuel pumps and engine fuel systems in which they are employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Straub
  • Patent number: 7453271
    Abstract: A method of sensing water within a fuel-water separator assembly disposed within a fuel system of an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes the steps of: A) monitoring a single selectively activatable sensor within the fuel-water separator assembly to detect the presence of water; B) determining if the sensor is activated for greater than or equal to a first predetermined percentage of time, but less than or equal to a second predetermined percentage of time and providing a first level of warning if true; and C) determining if the sensor is activated for greater than the second predetermined percentage of time and providing a second level of warning if true. An apparatus configured to perform the claimed method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Straub
  • Publication number: 20080150552
    Abstract: A method of sensing water within a fuel-water separator assembly disposed within a fuel system of an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes the steps of: A) monitoring a single selectively activatable sensor within the fuel-water separator assembly to detect the presence of water; B) determining if the sensor is activated for greater than or equal to a first predetermined percentage of time, but less than or equal to a second predetermined percentage of time and providing a first level of warning if true; and C) determining if the sensor is activated for greater than the second predetermined percentage of time and providing a second level of warning if true. An apparatus configured to perform the claimed method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventor: Robert D. Straub
  • Patent number: 7150410
    Abstract: A method for controlling injection rate and injection pressure of an electromagnetic fuel injector assembly having a pressure balanced control valve including a solenoid and a valve member subject to the pressure developed by the injector and actuated by the solenoid to close the valve member against the biasing force of a spring. The control valve is supported in a valve bore in an injector body. The method includes the step of providing a first level of current to the solenoid for moving the valve member from an open to a closed position allowing the pressure in the injector to rise, providing a regulated current to the solenoid at preselected times during the injector event to unbalance the forces acting on the valve member thereby slightly unseating the valve member to regulate injection pressure and injection rate of the fuel injector, and ending solenoid current delivery thereby moving the valve member to its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Robert D. Straub
  • Patent number: 6854962
    Abstract: A pumping system for a fuel injection system includes a body defining a high pressure pumping chamber, a plunger, a high pressure outlet, a high pressure fluid line connecting the pumping chamber to the outlet, a control valve along the fluid line, and a valve and restriction arrangement along the fluid line. The valve and restriction arrangement includes a restriction and a valve body. The valve body is movable between an open position in which fuel flow from the pumping chamber is generally unrestricted by the restriction and a closed position in which fuel flow from the pumping chamber is significantly restricted by the restriction to store energy in the pumping chamber. Advantageously, the high pressure restriction concept may be utilized in a pumping system for various types of rate shaping, including boot injection and square injection, in addition to pilot operation and post injection operations, and others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gregg R. Spoolstra, Robert D. Straub
  • Publication number: 20040076530
    Abstract: A pumping system for a fuel injection system includes a body defining a high pressure pumping chamber, a plunger, a high pressure outlet, a high pressure fluid line connecting the pumping chamber to the outlet, a control valve along the fluid line, and a valve and restriction arrangement along the fluid line. The valve and restriction arrangement includes a restriction and a valve body. The valve body is movable between an open position in which fuel flow from the pumping chamber is generally unrestricted by the restriction and a closed position in which fuel flow from the pumping chamber is significantly restricted by the restriction to store energy in the pumping chamber. Advantageously, the high pressure restriction concept may be utilized in a pumping system for various types of rate shaping, including boot injection and square injection, in addition to pilot operation and post injection operations, and others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Gregg R. Spoolstra, Robert D Straub